Has Chase Elliott Ever Won a NASCAR Race?

Chase Elliott, the 25-year-old Georgia native, has been a fan favorite since he made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2015. The son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, Chase had big shoes to fill from the start of his career. He quickly made a name for himself with his impressive driving skills and likable personality, but there was one question on everyone’s mind: has he ever won a race?

It’s understandable why fans would be curious about this. Winning a race is the ultimate achievement for any NASCAR driver, and it cements their place in the history books. Despite his impressive performances, many were starting to wonder if Elliott would ever be able to get that elusive first win.

So, has Chase Elliott ever won a race? The answer is yes, and in fact, he’s won quite a few.

Chase Elliott’s Early Career

Chase Elliott’s early career in racing began when he was just a teenager. Born on November 28, 1995, in Dawsonville, Georgia, Chase was surrounded by racing from a young age. His father, Bill Elliott, is a NASCAR Hall of Famer and a former Cup Series champion. Growing up, Chase would often visit his father’s shop and go to races with him. He started racing go-karts at the age of eight and worked his way up the ranks, eventually moving on to late model racing.

The late model division is a popular stepping stone for drivers who aspire to race in NASCAR. It is a type of stock car racing that is similar to NASCAR cars but with different rules and regulations. Late model races are typically held on local or regional tracks, and they can be a great way for drivers to gain experience and build their reputations.

For Chase Elliott, late model racing was the perfect way to start his career. He began racing in the division when he was just 14 years old, and he quickly made a name for himself. In 2010, he won his first late model race at the age of 14, becoming the youngest driver to win a race at Gresham Motorsports Park in Georgia. He went on to win six more races that year and was named the Georgia Asphalt Series Rookie of the Year.

The following year, Elliott continued his winning streak, taking the checkered flag in 13 races out of the 40 he entered. He won the Blizzard Series championship and was named the Rookie of the Year in the Southern Super Series. In 2012, he won the prestigious Snowball Derby, a 300-lap late model race held annually at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. He was just 17 years old at the time, and the victory cemented his status as one of the top young drivers in the sport.

Chase Elliott’s success in the late model division caught the attention of NASCAR teams, and he began competing in the lower-tier NASCAR series while continuing to race late models. In 2013, he made his NASCAR debut in the K&N Pro Series East, where he won his first race at Iowa Speedway. The following year, he competed full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he won his first race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

Despite his early success in NASCAR, Elliott remained committed to racing late models and continued to compete in the division throughout his early career. He won the Winchester 400, a prestigious late model race, in 2013 and 2015, and he won the All American 400 in 2015. In total, he won more than 40 late model races before moving on to the NASCAR Cup Series.

Chase Elliott’s early career in late model racing was a testament to his talent and determination. He proved that he had the skills and the drive to succeed at the highest level of motorsports, and his success in the late model division paved the way for his future success in NASCAR. Today, he is one of the top drivers in the Cup Series, and he has won multiple races and championships since making his debut in 2015.

Chase Elliott’s NASCAR Debut

Chase Elliott, the son of former NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, was born in Dawsonville, Georgia, on November 28, 1995. Growing up, he showed an immense interest in racing, which was nurtured by his family. As a teenager, he began racing late models and soon established himself as a force to be reckoned with.

In 2013, Elliott won the prestigious Snowball Derby, an annual late model race held in Pensacola, Florida. The following year, he won 13 of 40 races he entered, including the Winchester 400, Battle at Berlin 251, and All American 400. These victories caught the attention of NASCAR team owners, and in 2015, he signed up with Hendrick Motorsports, one of the most successful teams in the sport’s history.

On February 22, 2015, Elliott made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500, driving the No. 25 Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports. He became the youngest driver ever to win the pole position for the race, at the age of 20 years, 2 months, and 17 days. Elliott showed remarkable composure in his first Cup race, finishing 15th and impressing veteran drivers with his skills.

Over the next few races, Elliott showed flashes of brilliance, leading laps and running at the front of the pack. However, he also struggled with the grueling nature of Cup racing, enduring crashes and mechanical problems that led to several disappointing finishes. His best result in his rookie season was a second-place finish at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Despite the ups and downs of his rookie year, Elliott had shown enough potential to convince Hendrick Motorsports to retain him for another season. In 2016, he took over the iconic No. 24 car, filling the shoes of the legendary Jeff Gordon, who had retired at the end of the previous season.

Elliott’s sophomore year saw him recording his first NASCAR Cup Series pole position at the season-opening Daytona 500. He led a race-high 39 laps but was caught up in a late accident, finishing 37th. He continued to show promise, finishing in the top 10 multiple times but struggled to break through for his first victory.

The breakthrough finally came for Elliott in 2018, in his third full season in the Cup Series. On August 5, he won the GoBowling at The Glen race at Watkins Glen International, holding off defending series champion Martin Truex Jr. in a thrilling finish. Elliott’s victory made him the first driver from Georgia to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since his father did it in 2003.

Elliott’s win at Watkins Glen was followed by another victory three weeks later at the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. He went on to make the playoff for the second straight year and finished the season with three wins, 11 top-five finishes, and 21 top-10 finishes.

Since his breakthrough year, Elliott has become a consistent front-runner in the Cup Series. He won three races in 2019, including the prestigious Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and earned his first appearance in the Championship 4 round of the playoffs. In 2020, he won five races and claimed his first Cup Series championship, becoming the third-youngest champion in NASCAR history.

Overall, Elliott’s career in the NASCAR Cup Series has been marked by steady improvement and impressive performances. He has established himself as one of the sport’s brightest young stars and looks set to continue his winning ways for years to come.

Chase Elliott’s First Win

Chase Elliott, the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, had been racing in the Cup Series for three years before he finally earned his first win. Fans and experts alike knew that it was only a matter of time before the young driver from Georgia claimed his spot in Victory Lane, but Elliott didn’t make it easy for himself, nor his competitors.

Elliott’s first win came at the 2018 Go Bowling at The Glen race, a 90-lap event at Watkins Glen International in New York. Elliott had shown promise in previous races at the track, finishing in the top 10 in each of the two previous years. But he’d never managed to close out a win.

During the final laps of the race, Elliott was locked in a heated battle with Martin Truex Jr., a former champion who was looking to add another win to his impressive resume. Truex, known for his driving ability on road courses, was all over Elliott’s rear bumper, trying to find a way past the young driver.

But Elliott didn’t give an inch, using all his driving skills to stay ahead. He held tight to the inside line and used his car’s power and grip to keep Truex at bay. With just two laps remaining, Elliott managed to pull away slightly, extending his lead to over a second.

As Elliott took the checkered flag, his emotions overwhelmed him. He let out a yell of triumph over his radio, his voice cracking with excitement and relief. The win was a significant milestone for Elliott, who’d had a challenging season up to that point.

Elliott’s first win came in his 99th career start, making him the third-youngest driver to win a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. He’d go on to win twice more that season, at Dover and Kansas, cementing his place as a rising star in the sport.

Elliott’s success on the track hasn’t slowed down since his first win. In fact, he has become one of the most consistently excellent drivers in the Cup Series, finishing in the top 10 in well over half of his starts. With multiple wins and a championship to his name, Elliott is well on his way to becoming one of the most accomplished drivers of his generation.

Despite all his success, though, Elliott will always remember the feeling of claiming his first win. It was a moment of pure joy and excitement, the culmination of years of hard work and determination. And it’s a moment that fans of NASCAR will remember for years to come.